SPAR Slovenia’s year 2023: €1.2 billion turnover, market growth, and commitment to sustainability

In 2023, SPAR Slovenia achieved a gross turnover of €1.2 billion (including VAT), a 13.6% increase compared to the previous year. The profit before tax (EBT) was €21.6 million, with a profit margin of 1.97%. The company’s market share grew by 0.8%, reaching 21.7%. The number of purchases increased by 7.9% compared to 2022, with a total of 58.6 million purchases made in 2023. This means nearly 200,000 customers shopped daily at SPAR Supermarkets across the country.

David Kovačič, CEO of SPAR Slovenia, commented: “Our business success is a result of our ongoing effort to offer customers a high-quality, diverse product range under one roof. Last year was challenging due to high inflation affecting purchasing power. We promised our customers that, along with quality and variety, they would still be able to shop at affordable prices. We kept that promise by freezing the prices of over 2,000 A-brand products. Customers can also choose from our own brand range, where we are cautious with price increases and offer the best quality-price ratio. Among these, our S-BUDGET brand stands out, comprising over 500 quality products available at discount prices. We also offer regular promotions to provide even more value to our customers.”

SPAR Slovenia ended 2023 with 115 company-owned SPAR Supermarkets and INTERSPAR Hypermarkets, 22 independent SPAR Supermarkets, and nine INTERSPAR restaurants. During the year, they fulfilled over 11,000 online orders.

Customers value SPAR Slovenia

Despite the year being marked by price increases, customers rated SPAR Slovenia as the top retailer for the quality-price ratio. SPAR Slovenia was praised for its wide selection, freshness, and quality of products. Customers appreciated the convenience of quickly finding everything they need, along with the extensive SPAR own brand product assortment.

Independent research showed that customers rated the SPAR Plus loyalty card as the most popular among retailers of everyday products. At the end of 2023, SPAR Slovenia had over 1.1 million SPAR Plus card holders, a 6% increase year-on-year.

Sustainable shopping

In 2023, SPAR Slovenia introduced a new sustainability strategy with eight key goals, addressing the company’s impact on the environment, people, and society. The main aim is to help customers shop and live more sustainably. To support this, SPAR Slovenia continued reducing plastic packaging by using eco-friendly and recycled materials for its own brand products and added clearer information on packaging to make recycling easier.

SPAR Slovenia caters to different lifestyles, offering product lines like SPAR Veggie for vegans and vegetarians, Free From for gluten- and lactose-free options, and SPAR Vital for healthier living. The organisation has worked with Slovenian suppliers to ensure SPAR own brand products are glyphosate-free, promoting safer, pesticide-free food.

SPAR Slovenia has long supported local farmers through its “Straight from the Grower” initiative. With 70% of food products from Slovenian suppliers, SPAR Slovenia is one of the top retailers for locally produced food. In 2023, the retail organisation continued its “Start it Up, Slovenia” initiative, now in its eighth season.

SPAR Slovenia extended its collaboration with three Michelin-starred Slovenian chefs—Gregor Vraček, Uroš Štefelin, and Uroš Fakuč—enhancing its “SPAR Premium by chefs” product line.

Implementing modern technology

SPAR Slovenia was the first retailer to introduce an online tool called “I Would Eat My Way,” which uses AI to help users plan weekly menus. By visiting http://www.jedilnik.ai, users can create personalised weekly menus with recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that match their taste and dietary needs.

What sets this tool apart is that the recipes feature products available from SPAR Slovenia’s website. Users can easily order ingredients directly through the SPAR Online store or add them to a digital shopping list.

Employee development

In 2023, the number of SPAR Slovenia employees grew by 2.5%, reaching 5,260 by the end of the year.

SPAR Slovenia launched the second generation of its “Young Graduates” programme, aimed at helping career beginners find their first full-time jobs. The company also introduced the “Young Potentials” initiative at its head office, identifying future key talent. This programme will expand to stores under “Young Potentials in Sales,” focusing on developing skills and identifying talent in retail.

SPAR Slovenia earned additional certifications in 2023, including Disability-Friendly Company and Top Investor in Education, alongside its existing Family-Friendly Company and Socially Responsible Employer certificates.

Source: SPAR Slovenia

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About SPAR Slovenia

SPAR Slovenia, operated by ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG), was granted a licence by SPAR International to operate under the brand in 1991. ASPIAG is a subsidiary of SPAR Austria AG. SPAR has become a key employer in the country, both through its corporate businesses as well as through licenses being granted to independent retailers to expand the brand further.